November 6: MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GOD OF LOVE

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested. Revelation 15:4

The song of the redeemed at the end of time has many similarities with the song of those who were miraculously rescued from Egypt, its angry king, and its vast army. The children of Israel stood on the far shore of the Red Sea and saw divine judgment fall upon their enemies as the waters closed in. But in Revelation, John is repeatedly shown the celebratory attitude of the redeemed before the final plagues fall. God’s last-day people will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24) coming confidently to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) because of Christ’s offering of Himself in our place once for all (Hebrews 10:10). The opening line of today’s verse bolsters the first angel’s message: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6)

In the Bible, the term nations refers to ethnic groups more than geographical borders. In God’s kingdom there will be saved people from every group, every tribe, every language. And before the execution of the final judgment, there will even be a moment when all of the lost will bow the knee in agreement that God is just and fair (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10-11).

For Your judgments have been manifested. A study of the book of Leviticus reveals a very detailed and thorough set of instructions to the priests for the purpose of showing forgiveness for every kind of sin, even sins committed in ignorance. All sacrifices pointed forward to Christ. His all-sufficient sacrifice covered every possible failure that the repentant sinner would lay at His feet. All judgments against every type of sin fell squarely upon Him. It is a terrible waste and tragedy when any person, so greatly valued by the Creator, refuses to confess and renounce his sin. Forgiveness is a gift from the Lord, but know that repentance is also a gift from His Spirit. This is the essential gift that leads to the tender, divine forgiveness that every one of us needs. To push away and refuse the Holy Spirit’s leading in this matter is the only unforgivable sin.

The Bible teaches that God alone is holy. But Peter wrote: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) But how can we be holy if God alone is holy? While this may seem a great mystery, full surrender to Him allows His creative work to begin in and through an individual. When someone chooses to honor the Creator in reverent worship, He performs a work, a building process from glory-to-glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). True belief in His word moves such a one toward spontaneous obedience. In trusting Him, an individual eventually becomes trustworthy. It has been proven scientifically that we are changed by beholding. Brain pathways can be rerouted. Bad habits can be ousted and replaced by good ones. There must be no corner of our “house” that He is not allowed into, no territory of our mind that He cannot place His finger upon and declare “Mine!” Beloved, believe that He desires to manifest His holy character in you!

…but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. Hebrews 3:6,14

For further study: Leviticus 11:44-45; Isaiah 45:18,22; Jeremiah 10:6-7; Philippians 4:8